Presentation of the O'Pen Bic world championship

It's global: Twelve nations have arrived at Circolo Vela Arco, represented by almost two hundred young sailors. These still-budding athletes, who nonetheless already possess proven sailing skills, will face-off in the O'Pen Bic sail boat class world championship.

Circolo Vela Arco decided to connect this prominent event with the local territory, and to this end it organized a folkloristic parade of the participating nations worthy of any important international-level event. The twelve nations - represented by the athletes, their trainers, technical and executive staff and the families - have crossed Arco's old town centre yesterday evening, colouring via Segantini with their waving national flags. The parade passed through Tre Novembre Square and Marchetti Plaza - passing in front of the homonymous and famous habsburgic palace with its distinctive chimneys - to reach Segantini Square and the city's gardens, where the athletes saluted the city and presented the world championship's programme. Arco and its lido have officially become the international setting for one of the fastest-growing junior sailing categories, one which also prepares its athletes to make the qualitative leap towards higher sporting level open boats. Among the young racers will also be the son of Russell Coutts, Olympic athlete and several-times winner of the America's Cup, who will also be present at Circolo Vela Arco to follow his son's performance as both father and trainer. He is not the only famous attendee either, since this opening day has also seen the return in Italy - fresh of his victory in the Optimist 2017 world championship held in Thailand - of Marco Gardoni, who will be racing in this O'Pen Bic championship as well. Circolo Vela Arco obtained the honour of hosting this event thanks to the victories of the arcense born and bred Federico Zampiccoli, winner of 2013's O'Pen Bic world championship and one of today's most prominent helmsmen of the major 29er class. These are going to be demanding days for the Circolo, which will have to manage the presence of a large number of young international athletes. The racers aren't waiting idly either: in fact they have already been out on the waters of the Garda yesterday morning for the selection race, a trial race to allow all of them to get to know the weather and marine conditions of the lake. The trials of the championship will start today and end on the morning of August the 5th. For the first time Arco won't see only rock climbing athletes on its streets but also a varied, international and important delegation of sailing athletes. The city is asserting itself more and more as the world capital for outdoor sports.